IS IT CRABGRASS OR IS IT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GRASS?
HOW TO CONTROL CRABGRASS VS. COARSE TALL FESCUE
Crabgrass (Annual Grass)
Crabgrass is much easier to manage than tall fescue because it is an annual grass. One of the simplest ways to differentiate between tall fescue and crabgrass is by observing when they germinate. Crabgrass typically germinates in May and will begin to appear in lawns around mid-June or early July. Crabgrass can be easily identified by its light green color and often grows along the edges or in thin, stressed areas of the lawn.
Yes We Can Kill Crabgrass After it is Growing
Many people mistakenly believe that crabgrass can only be controlled with a pre-emergent treatment. In reality, crabgrass can be effectively managed using a special post-emergent crabgrass killer called Drive XLR8. This product eliminates crabgrass without harming desirable grasses, and the crabgrass will die within 3 to 10 days after application.
Appearance
Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed that stands out in a lawn due to its distinctive look and growth habits:
- Blade Texture: Broad, coarse leaves with a slightly wavy edge and a rough texture.
- Color: Light green or yellowish compared to the darker, richer green of most desirable turfgrasses.
- Growth Habit: Spreads low to the ground in a sprawling, crab-like pattern, with stems radiating outward from a central point.
- Stem Appearance: Thick, smooth stems that may have a reddish tint at the base.
- Flowering: Produces seed heads with finger-like spikes, often visible in late summer.
- Density: Grows in clumps, quickly overtaking thin or stressed areas of the lawn.
Crabgrass thrives in hot, dry conditions and poorly maintained lawns, particularly in areas with thin turf or bare soil. It can outcompete desirable grasses if not controlled, creating an uneven and unsightly appearance in the lawn.
Control / Management
Many people mistakenly believe that crabgrass can only be controlled with a pre-emergent treatment. In reality, crabgrass can be effectively managed using a special post-emergent crabgrass killer called Drive XLR8. This product eliminates crabgrass without harming desirable grasses, and the crabgrass will die within 3 to 10 days after application.
Young Crabgrass
Mature Crabgrass
Examples of Crabgrass
Young Crabgrass
Crabgrass
Mature Crabgrass
Coarse Bladed Grasses
Coarse Fescue (Perennial Grass)
Coarse fescue is often mistakenly identified as crabgrass. This thick-bladed, perennial grass typically grows in clumps within the lawn. A simple way to tell if the grass clump is tall fescue is to observe its growth pattern. If the clump is present year-round, it is likely unimproved tall fescue, brome, or another native grass. However, if the clump starts to grow partway through the season, it is most likely crabgrass.
Appearance
Coarse fescue, often referring to older or unmanaged varieties of tall fescue, stands out in a lawn due to its distinct appearance:
- Blade Texture: Wide, rough, and stiff leaf blades, much coarser compared to fine fescue or Kentucky bluegrass.
- Color: Medium to dark green, though it can look less vibrant compared to other grasses in a mixed lawn.
- Growth Habit: Grows in clumps (bunch-type grass) rather than spreading evenly like rhizome-based grasses, leading to patchy areas if not well-maintained.
- Height: Tends to grow taller and faster than other lawn grasses if not regularly mowed.
- Density: Appears less dense, with a more rugged and uneven look, especially in comparison to fine-textured grasses.
Control / Management
Until 2024, controlling tall fescue without harming desirable grasses was not possible. Fortunately, there is now a new method available that utilizes a specialized application technique with a weed control product called Tenacity. Achieving complete control can be challenging, as it requires three applications of Tenacity, with each application spaced seven to ten days apart.
Coarse Fescue
Coarse Fescue
Examples of Coarse Tall Fescue
Native Grass
Coarse Fescue
Native Grass
How to Identify Crabgrass and Coarse Fescue in a Lawn
Pesticide Information Sheets
CRABGRASS CONTROL
Drive XLR8
Crabgrass and Bindweed Killer Information Sheets
Drive XLR8 weed and crabgrass killer is registered with the EPA by BASF, EPA reg. #7969-272. This post-emergent crabgrass and bindweed killer is also registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
COARSE FESCUE CONTROL
Tenacity
Coarse Fescue / Native Grass
Control Information Sheets
Tenacity is registered with the EPA reg. # 100-1267. Tenacity is also registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Note: To control coarse fescues in a lawn 3 applications will need to be applied, each spaced out 7-14 days apart.
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Crabgrass and Coarse Fescue FAQs
Is it Easier to Control Crabgrass or Coarse Fescue in a Lawn?
When comparing crabgrass and coarse fescue in terms of ease of control in a lawn, crabgrass is generally easier to manage if addressed promptly, while coarse fescue can be more challenging due to its persistence and compatibility with lawn conditions.
Crabgrass is Easier to Control – Why?
- Annual Lifecycle: Crabgrass is an annual weed, meaning it dies off each year after seeding. Preventing seed germination with pre-emergent herbicides or crowding it out with a thick lawn can effectively stop its recurrence.
- Selective Herbicides: There are many post-emergent herbicides specifically designed to target crabgrass without harming desirable grasses.
- Growth Timing: Crabgrass germinates in the spring and grows in hot weather, so its growth period is predictable, allowing for timely interventions.
Key Strategies for Crabgrass Control:
- Use post-emergent herbicides to kill actively growing crabgrass.
- Maintain a thick, healthy lawn to prevent crabgrass from establishing.
Coarse Fescue is More Difficult to Control – Why?
- Perennial Grass: Coarse fescue is a perennial, meaning it comes back year after year, making it more persistent.
- Non-Selective Removal: Since it is a grass, most herbicides that kill coarse fescue will also harm desirable turfgrass. Selective removal usually requires multiple applications of a special weed control.
- Deep Roots: Its deep root system makes it resilient to stress and harder to eradicate completely.
- Blending: Coarse fescue may not look dramatically different in texture from other grasses, making it less noticeable but harder to isolate and treat.
Key Strategies for Coarse Fescue Control:
- Spot-treat with special weed controls and repeat treatment weekly until successful.
- Remove clumps manually and overseed thin spots with finer-textured grasses.
DriveXLR8 is a post-emergent weed control product that effectively targets various broadleaf weeds and annual grasses. It is specifically used for controlling bindweed, crabgrass, and foxtail. One application usually does the trick.
Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed that grows in lawns and gardens, thriving in hot, sunny conditions. It germinates in spring, grows vigorously during summer, and dies in the fall after producing seeds.
Crabgrass thrives in:
- Thin or Stressed Lawns: Bare spots, lawns that are mowed too short, and weak grass make it easier for crabgrass to take over.
- Overwatered or Drought-Stressed Areas: Poor lawn care practices create ideal conditions.
- Hot, Sunny Spots: Crabgrass loves heat and sunlight.
Crabgrass spreads by:
- Producing thousands of seeds per plant in late summer.
- Dropping seeds into the soil, which remain dormant until the following spring.
- Maintain a Healthy Lawn: Keep grass thick and healthy through proper mowing, watering, and fertilization.
- Reduce Bare Spots: Reseed thin areas to crowd out weeds.
Crabgrass is an annual weed that dies off in the fall. However, its seeds remain in the soil and can germinate the following spring if conditions are favorable, such as a thin lawn or short mowing. This can make it appear as though crabgrass returns year after year. If the lawn is thick and healthy, crabgrass seeds are less likely to germinate.
No. Quackgrass is a perennial weed with long rhizomes and a different growth pattern, while crabgrass is an annual that spreads by seeds.
Yes! Keeping your grass at 3–4 inches tall shades the soil, making it harder for crabgrass to germinate.
Yes, crabgrass dies with the first frost. However, its seeds survive in the soil and germinate the next growing season.
Yes, you can:
- Maintain a thick and healthy turf.
- Aerate and overseed your lawn to crowd out crabgrass.
- Use natural alternatives like corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent.
Coarse fescue refers to older varieties of tall fescue or unmanaged fescues with wider, rougher blades than modern turf-type tall fescue. It is durable and drought-tolerant but often considered less aesthetically appealing due to its texture.
Not necessarily. Coarse fescue is hardy and provides excellent erosion control and drought resistance. However, its coarse texture and clumping growth can disrupt the appearance of a manicured lawn.